Soapwort

(Bouncing bet) Native to eastern Europe, Soapwort is often found growing in the woods, on grassy slopes, and along wild riverbanks. You can easily make an effective shampoo, skin rinse, or delicate fabric wash by steeping roots and leaves in hot water. The substance that collects on the top lathers like soap when agitated. "Bouncing bet" is an old Elizabethan term for laundry woman. Soapwort is well known to the Mahuna and Cherokee, who used it to make poultices and rinses for a variety of skin ailments, pain relief, and as a soap. Soapwort is easy to establish in the garden. Attractive pale pink flowers appear in dense clusters. Attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbird moths. Ht 24in (60cm).